
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Treasure Hunters Expansions
- 2–5 players
- 2018

2019
Rules assistance for Brains!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Brains! is a board game released in 2019 for 2–5 players, 5–10 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Peter C. Hayward and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building.
You command an army of the undead! Using your zombie horde, beat your opponents to be the first to collect valuable treasures. Brains! is a graveyard-building game for 2-5 players. Each turn, either DRAW 2 cards, PLAY a card, or DISCARD the top card of the deck. Discarded cards enter your graveyard, which can trigger powerful effects or unlock ongoing abilities! When you play a card, either play it to THE PIT (for its ability) or into your collection (for its braaaiiiiiins). The first to have 21 or more brains at the start of their turn is the winner! The third game in the Treasure Hunters line, Brains! shuffles together with Ninjitsu! and/or Scuttle!, for pirate-ninja-zombie mayhem. It also works seamlessly with the Treasure Hunters Expansions. -description from designer
Brains! supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Brains! is 5–10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Brains! for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Brains! has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Brains! belongs to these categories: Card Game, Children's Game, and Print & Play. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Take That, and Deck, Bag, and Pool Building. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Brains! are: Peter C. Hayward. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Brains! as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.